ABOUT US

Serving Designers since 1961

The United Design Guild (UDG) has been serving designers since 1961, when it was known as the Art Directors Club of New Jersey. Our focus is growing a community of like-minded people that can promote the craft and creativity of design professionals and students. Read More

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The United Design Guild provides unique opportunities for the design community to interact and learn from each other. From our Workshops that offer more formal, instructor-led learning experiences to our informal, Shadow of the City hands-on drawing events—UDG supports ongoing professional development. Whether learning new concepts or developing new skills, a designer’s world is one of life-long learning.

Our Board

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Will Truran

President

Will Truran is the head of Noble Folk Design a small studio in North New Jersey. His past clients have included companies like Johnson & Johnson, Mountain Creek, Arm & Hammer

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Keith Smerak

Vice President

Keith Smerak is a partner at Element 6. He’s consulted brands like Rumson’s, Bios, and our very own United Design Guild.

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Paula Maylahn

Education Leader

Paula Maylahn is an independent consultant specializing in integrated marketing, branding, information architecture, and content management. Prior to her consultancy work, she held a variety of positions including designer, art director, and creative director.

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James Smith

Education Council

James Smith was once the president of the ADCNJ, but he is best known for starting the packaging studio Smith Design.

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Bonnie Blake

Education Council

Bonnie Blake is Professor of Design and Interactive Media at Ramapo College of New Jersey and a practicing graphic designer, animator, and author/co-author of several digital media publications.

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Kevin Greene

Young Blood Community Leader

Kevin Greene

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Mike Sulick

Online Community Leader

Mike Sulick is a designer, illustrator, and typographer currently working at Fanbrandz, a small design studio specializing in creating identities and style guides for Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and other major leagues.

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Janelle Ferraro

Head of Marketing

Janelle works at Ramapo College as a graphic designer, moonlights as an adjunct professor and is the creative director to the yearbook club. When she is not at Ramapo, she’s volunteering for the USO, cooking something or reading (probably Harry Potter).

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Miles Hoffman

Board Member

Miles Hoffman

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Kristen Kuhns

Board Member

Kristen is a graphic designer and illustrator currently working at Element Six, a design agency specializing in comprehensive branding. In her spare time, she designs custom invitations while listening to audiobooks.

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Beth Fileti

Board Member

Beth runs PoliteType, a one-woman design studio in Caldwell, where she specializes in type design and lettering. She is a graduate of the Type@Cooper Extended program in NYC, a dedicated penpal, and an avid reader.